Causes of Death Among Construction Machinery Operators

Decouflé, Pierre; Jw, Lloyd; Lg, Salvin

doi:10.1097/00043764-197702000-00005

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Decoufle et al observed an increased risk of lung cancer in construction machinery operators who were members of an operating engineers union and who died in 1967 (proportional mortality ratio = 1.35, p < 0.05). 13 In a proportion mortality study of 15 843 deaths among unionised construction operating engineers in the USA by Stern and Haring Sweeney, the proportional cancer mortality ratio (PCMR) for lung cancer was slightly above 1 (PCMR = 1.14; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.19). 14 There was no association with duration of membership in the union (a proxy for duration of exposure).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lung cancer in heavy equipment operators and truck drivers with diesel exhaust exposure in the construction industry

Järvholm¹

2003

Occup Environ Med

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Background: Several studies indicate that truck drivers have an increased risk of lung cancer, but few studies have examined lung cancer risk in heavy equipment operators. Workers in both occupations are exposed to diesel exhaust. Aims: To examine the incidence and mortality from lung cancer among truck drivers and among drivers of heavy vehicles. Methods: A computerised register of Swedish construction workers participating in health examinations between 1971 and 1992 was used. Male truck drivers (n = 6364) and drivers of heavy construction vehicles (n = 14 364) were selected as index groups; carpenters/electricians constituted the reference group (n = 119 984). Results: Operators of heavy construction equipment experienced no increased risk of lung cancer compared to risk among the carpenter/electrician referents (61 cases v 70.1 expected). However, a significant inverse trend risk with increasing use of cabins was apparent. Truck drivers had increased risks of cancer of the lung (61 cases v 47.3 expected) and prostate (124 cases v 99.7 expected), although only mortality for lung cancer was significantly increased. Comparisons with the general population showed similar results. Conclusion: Results are consistent with those of previous studies suggesting that heavy equipment operators with potential exposure to diesel exhaust may have little or no increased risk of lung cancer, although the use of cabins seemed to decrease the risk of lung cancer. The results for truck drivers are also consistent with previous reports of increased lung cancer risk among truck drivers exposed to diesel exhaust, as well as recent reports linking diesel exhaust exposure to prostate cancer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lung cancer in heavy equipment operators and truck drivers with diesel exhaust exposure in the construction industry

Järvholm¹

2003

Occup Environ Med

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“…This study, like all epidemiologic studies, had some potential limitations and strengths that need to be considered. For the PMRs to be considered a good approximation of the SMRs, the all-cause mortality rate should be the same for both the group under study (UURWAW members) and the comparison group (U.S. population); that is, the allcause SMR should be 100 [Decou¯e et al, 1977]. If the allcause SMR for the roofers would actually be greater than 100, the PMR analysis would tend to underestimate the true risk and might not detect all real associations (and vice versa, if the overall SMR was less than 100).…”

Section: Limitations and Strengthsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proportionate mortality among unionized roofers and waterproofers

2000

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Background The United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers (UURWAW) is one of the 15 building and construction trades departments in the AFL‐CIO. The U.S. roofing industry, including both roofing and waterproofing applications, both unionized and nonunionized, comprises about 25,000 firms, employing approximately 300,000 people, about 200,000 of whom are involved in the application of roofs. The specific toxins to which roofers may be exposed at the job site include, among others, bitumens (asphalt and/or coal tar pitch) as well as asbestos and fiberglass from roof removal operations. Excess deaths from occupational injuries are also of concern. Methods This study evaluated causes of mortality among 11,144 members of the UURWAW. Age‐adjusted proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) were computed with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using U.S. age‐, gender‐, and race‐specific proportional mortality rates for the years of the study, 1950–1996. Results Statistically significant increased PMRs were found for all injuries (PMR = 142, CI = 134–150), especially falls (PMR = 464, CI = 419–513) and other injuries (PMR = 121, CI = 107–137), cancers of the lung (PMR = 139, CI = 131–148), bladder (PMR = 138, CI = 111–170), esophagus (PMR = 134, CI = 107–166), larynx (PMR = 145, CI = 106–193), and cancers of other and unspecified sites (PMR = 130, CI = 112–149), pneumoconioses and other nonmalignant respiratory diseases (PMR = 115, CI = 103–128), and homicides (PMR = 153, CI = 135–172). The occupational exposures which may have contributed to the excess risks of malignant and nonmalignant respiratory diseases include, among others, asphalt fumes, coal tar pitch volatiles and asbestos; however, cigarette smoking must also be considered a contributing factor. Conclusions The present study underscores the need to control airborne exposures to hazardous substances and especially to examine fall prevention efforts within the roofing industry. Am. J. Ind. Med. 37:478–492, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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“…However, the authors reported a significant trend toward increasing lung cancer risk with duration of union membership as well as a statistically significant elevated risk of lung cancer among all retired members (SMR 5 1.64) and among those retiring at or after age 65 (SMR 5 1.30). Decouflé et al [1977] conducted a PMR study of Operating Engineers selecting those members where a death benefit had been paid in 1967. The overall risk from cancer of all sites was significantly elevated, at 1.12 (P , 0.01); this result was similar to the PMR of 1.11 (P , 0.01) observed in our analysis.…”

Section: Lung Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

Proportionate mortality among unionized construction operating engineers

Stern

Haring-Sweeney

1997

Am. J. Ind. Med.

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This report presents the results of proportionate mortality ratios (PMR) and proportionate cancer mortality ratios (PCMR) among 15,843 members of the International Union of Operating Engineers who had died between 1988–1993. Operating engineers represent one of the 15 unions in the Building and Construction Trades Department and are responsible for the operation and maintenance of heavy earthmoving equipment used in the construction of buildings, bridges, roads, and other facilities. Using U.S. proportionate cancer mortality as the referent, statistically significant elevated mortality was observed for cancers of the lung (PCMR = 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09–1.19) and bone (PCMR = 2.14, CI = 1.19–3.52). Using U.S. proportionate mortality as the referent, statistically significant elevated mortality was observed for other benign and unspecified neoplasms (PMR = 1.54, CI = 1.09–2.13), emphysema (PMR = 1.37, CI = 1.20–1.55), other injuries (PMR = 1.43, CI = 1.20–1.70) (which included crushing under/in machinery, tractor rollover, run over by crane), and suicide (PMR = 1.22, CI = 1.06–1.40). The PMR for leukemia and aleukemia (PMR = 1.19, CI = 1.02–1.37), but not the PCMR (1.07, CI = 0.92–1.24), was also significantly elevated. Some of the occupational exposures that may have contributed to these excesses include diesel exhaust, asphalt and welding fumes, silica dust, ionizing radiation, and coal tar pitch. The present study underscores the need to control airborne exposures to these substances and for injury prevention efforts aimed at operating engineers in the construction industry. Am. J. Ind. Med. 32:51‐65, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Causes of Death Among Construction Machinery Operators

Cited by 12 publications

References 9 publications

Lung cancer in heavy equipment operators and truck drivers with diesel exhaust exposure in the construction industry

Lung cancer in heavy equipment operators and truck drivers with diesel exhaust exposure in the construction industry

Proportionate mortality among unionized roofers and waterproofers

Proportionate mortality among unionized construction operating engineers

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